Cannon clamp



March 24, 1942. ANATER 2,277,029

CANNON CLAMP Filed July 26, 1940 M mama.- fimwa/va J, flA/A TEE,

Patented Mar. 24, 1942 CANNON CLAMP Raymond J. Anater, ,Glassport, Pa,assignor to National Tube Company, a corporation of New JerseyApplication July26, 1940, Serial No. 347,775

- 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps for pierced or reelercannons of the character employed inseamless tube mills and the like.

Such cannons are located at the inlet end of the mill or the like andreceive and guide the billet or shell to the piercing operation. It isnecessary to change the cannon for each change of size of the billet orshell, and to positively secure the cannon in place during operation ofthe mill.

My invention has in view to provide a fluidactuated cannon clamp whichwill facilitate removal and change of cannon and which will positivelyand rigidly secure the same in position in the mill.

It is also an object hereof to provide a cannon clamp which is readilyapplicable to existing mills.

A further object is to provide asimple clamp having low maintenancecost.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention applied to a tube mill;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a portion of a tube mill housingshowing the inlet end thereof where the billet or shell to be pierced isintroduced to said mill. As is customary, a cannon 2 is located at saidinlet end of the mill for receiving and guiding the billet or shell intothe mill and to the piercing mechanism therein. The housing A and thesaid piercing mechanism is conventional and therefore not illustrated indetail.

The cannon 2 rests upon or is seated in the housing A as shown at 3,being immediately beneath a vertically spaced abutment 4 on the housing.

For the purpose of providing a removable clamping device for exerting aholding pressure upon the cannon 2, I provide a fluid-actuated clampmovably mounted to selectively engage the abutment 4 and the cannon forpositively and rigidly securing the latter upon its seat 3.

Said clamp includes a vertical cylinder 5 integrally closed at its upperend 6 and having a detachable head I at its lower end through which avertically reciprocable plunger 8 extends. The plunger is provided witha pressure head 9 within the cylinder including suitable packing rings10, and a packing gland ll seals the movement of the plunger through thehead I.

Fluid inlet and discharge connections I2 are provided at spacedintervals for selectively ,op-

crating the plunger in opposite directions as by hydraulic or pneumaticfluid from a suitable source of supply and an'adjus table valve, not

shown. The valve may be operatedto admit and exhaust fluid foralternately raising and lowering the plunger 8, as will be readilyunderstood.

Extending laterally at one side of the cylinder, I provide an integralradial arm I3 having vertical pivot means M at its free terminal forpivotally mounting and supporting the cylinder 5, whereby the clamp maybe horizontally swung in relation to the abutment 4 and the cannon 2.

Said pivotal connection 14 may be provided in any suitable manner, asfor example, by means of a bracket l5 secured to the mill housing A at asuitable distance from the abutment 4.

Upon properly locating the clamp as stated,

the same may be readily swung into the engaging position shown in thedrawing, whereupon fluid pressure may be admitted to the cylinder 5 tolower the plunger 8 against the cannon 2, the upper end 6 of thecylinder engagingthe abutment 4, whereby the reactive pressure of theclamp between said abutment and the cannon positively and rigidlyanchors or secures said cannon in place,

When it is desired to change the cannon 2, as for a change of size ofthe billet or shell, the fluid pressure is applied to the clamp cylinder5 to elevate the plunger 8, whereupon the said clamp may be swunghorizontally away from the cannon so as to permit ready removal andreplacement thereof. A radially projecting grip or handle I6 may beprovided on the cylinder 5, which handle may be grasped by the operatorfor positioning the clamp.

The cannons 2 are provided with saddles or fillers l1, providing ahorizontal seating face for engagement by the lower end of the: clampplunger 8. The said saddles or fillers I! are varied in accordance withthe size of the cannon so as to maintain a substantially constantdistance between the engaged surfaces of said saddles and the clamp.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a fluid actuated cannonclamp which may be readily and easily positioned for clamping a cannonin the mill housing or structure, and that the improved clamp may bereadily swung out of clamping position to permit changing the cannon.

Various changes and modifications are contemplated within the scope ofthe following claims.

I claim:

1. A clamp for holding the cannon of a tube mill or the like, includinga cylinder, a fluidoperated plunger vertically reciprocable therein andextending beyond one end of the cylinder, and means for pivotallymounting the cylinder upon the mill for horizontal swinging movementbetween the cannon and a vertically spaced abutment of the millthereabove, whereby the cylinder and plunger may be selectivelypositioned to exert a clamping pressure upon said cannon.

2. A clamp for holding the cannon of a tube mill or the like, includinga cylinder, a fluidoperated plunger vertically reciprocable therein andextending beyond the lower end of the cylinder, and means pivotallymounting the cylinder upon the mill for horizontal swinging move- .mentbetween the cannon and a vertically spaced abutment of the millthereabove, the upper end of the cylinder being adapted to engage theabutment when said cylinder is positioned over the cannon, whereby theplunger may selectively exert a downward clamping pressure upon thecannon.

3. A clamp for holding the cannon of a tube mill or the like, includinga cylinder, a fluid-operated plunger vertically reciprocable therein andextending beyond the lower end of the cylinder, an arm laterallyextending from the cylinder, and means for pivotally securing said armto the mill for horizontal swinging movement between the cannon and avertically spaced abutment of the mill thereabove, the upper end of thecylinder being adapted to engage the abutment when said cylinder ispositioned over the cannon, whereby the plunger may selectively exert adownward clamping pressure upon the cannon.

4. A cannon clamp of the character described including a verticalcylinder, a plunger vertically reciprocable therein and extending beyondthe lower end thereof, a supporting arm extending laterally at one sideof the cylinder and having means for pivotally supporting the arm andcylinder for horizontal swinging movement thereof, said cylinder havingfluid passages for the admission and discharge of pressure fluid forreciprocating the plunger.

RAYMOND J. ANATER.

